Case Files of Officer Penelope

Chapter 7: Into the Shadows

Day 1 began with Penelope tackling a new case. The suspect profile was vague—few clues to go on and no clear connections yet. Determined to make progress, Penelope hit the streets for patrol, scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary. The calm shattered when a sleek car screeched to a halt nearby, and out stepped Ethan Drake, the infamous movie star who had an uncanny knack for appearing at her crime scenes.

“Detective,” he smirked. “Always in the thick of it, aren’t you?”

The charm was short-lived. A tense exchange escalated when Ethan’s irritation boiled over, leading to a physical altercation. Penelope held her ground, issuing him a ticket for obstruction. As he drove off, she couldn’t shake the feeling that his presence was more than coincidence.

Day 2 saw Penelope diving into the case with renewed focus. Cross-referencing witness statements and database entries, she uncovered a breakthrough: the suspect was male, brown-haired, and unmistakably evil. The pieces began to fit as she collected critical evidence at the crime scene.

By the end of the day, her commanding officer delivered the news—her efforts earned her a promotion to Detective. But even with progress, Ethan Drake loomed large in her mind.